Three New 2001 Chrysler Sebring Cars Shine Through Conventional Car Designs
18 April 2000
Three New 2001 Chrysler Sebring Cars Shine Through Conventional Car Designs NEW YORK, April 18 The all-new 2001 Chrysler Sebring
Convertible, Sebring coupe and sedan brilliantly shine through segments filled
with look-alike passenger cars, and offer customers more in terms of style,
comfort and value. These three all-new cars offer customers premium, non-
traditional designs, unconventional roominess and passenger comfort combined
with refinements and performance for everyday driving enjoyment.
"We set out to create a greater Chrysler family appearance with the design
of the Sebring Convertible, coupe and sedan," said John Herlitz, Senior Vice
President of Design, DaimlerChrysler. "These three new 2001 Sebring cars
stand out as Chrysler designs that will reinforce the Chrysler brand presence
in each of their segments."
While all three cars were designed by different teams -- and will be built
at two different plants -- they each reflect the refined, elegant and
expressive design cues that have established Chrysler as a premium brand in
the coupe, convertible, sedan and minivan segments.
Chrysler Sebring Convertible
The philosophy behind the design of the next-generation Sebring
Convertible was to expand on the already elegant design of the award-winning
first-generation model and enhance its world-class style with more athletic
definition.
"We began the design of the new Sebring Convertible from a leadership
position of being America's best selling convertible," said Lance Wagner,
Senior Manager of Interior and Exterior Design. "But we wanted to create an
even more emotional design, while building on the unprecedented combination of
style, generous interior room, affordability and premium features."
Starting at the front, the grille of the new 2001 Chrysler Sebring
Convertible is more dramatic, featuring an egg-crate design and chrome
surround molding to create a Chrysler family lineage with the award-winning
Chrysler 300M, LHS and Concorde, as well as the all-new Sebring sedan and
coupe.
Character lines give the front fascia more definition, creating a precise
center point. The winged Chrysler medallion adorns the front of the Sebring,
adding to the elegance of the convertible design while providing a functional
air-intake opening. New, more crystalline headlamps feature chromed
parabolas, which contribute to a 25-percent brighter light and an improved
light pattern. Complementing the headlamps are integrated fog lamps that
further establish the presence of the all-new Sebring Convertible.
The profile view of the Sebring Convertible reveals a more dramatic wedge
shape, which is achieved with a new front hood and raised rear deck. New
fenders with subtle wheel lips -- similar to the Chrysler 300M Hemi(R) C
concept car -- emphasize the new larger wheels and tires as a key design
element of the Convertible.
While the Sebring Convertible's overall design is at the forefront of
convertible elegance and refinement, elements of the rear design further
enhance its road presence. A chrome license plate applique, which
accommodates both North American and international license plates, integrates
the Chrysler winged badge for a sophisticated design highlight. The jewel-
like chromed reflectors within the wrap-around taillights accentuate the new
shape of the rear side quarter panels and back view. The new deck opening is
integrated seamlessly into the rear design, while providing a reduction in
lift-over height into the best-in-class trunk space.
Interior appointments on the Convertible
The leadership position of the best-selling convertible is reinforced with
the new Sebring. Its new interior remains one of the roomiest in the segment
and provides exceptionally comfortable, four-passenger seating.
"Knowing that the romance of a convertible is in the ability to put the
top down and feel the wind in your hair, we wanted the new interior of the
Sebring Convertible to be even more inviting," said Jeff Godshall, Senior
Manager, Interior and Exterior Design. "We created an interior that achieves
a new level of refinement with new materials and added features befitting
Sebring's worldwide sales success."
New on the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited is a two-toned Deep
Royal Blue and Cream leather interior that is reminiscent of higher-priced
cabrios of Europe. The Cream leather seats and door trim bolsters stand out
on the Deep Royal Blue carpet, upper doors and instrument panel to create a
sporty, yet elegant interior. The two-tone doors on the Limited model feature
simulated wood accent panels embellished with the Chrysler winged badge.
All three Sebring Convertible models -- LX, LXi and Limited -- have new
front seats with higher headrests for improved safety, integral seat-mounted
shoulder belts for easy rear-passenger ingress/egress and new fabrics and
leather seat trim.
Design elements of the new instrument panel span the full width of the car
for an even roomier feel. Chrysler signature design cues include the bright-
ringed instrument dials and gauges with contrasting clockface numerals, set
against black faces on LX and LXi, or white electroluminescent faces on the
Limited. The new heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls and radio
controls are easier to use and are flush with the instrument panel for a more
refined interior.
Chrysler Sebring coupe
The all-new 2001 Chrysler Sebring coupe brings luxury to a segment filled
with "same-ol'-same-ol'" passenger cars. It provides sleek design,
unconventional roominess and passenger comfort combined with performance and
refinements to make everyday driving fun again.
"When designing the all-new Sebring coupe, we wanted to create a European
luxury image that looked refined from all angles," said Herlitz. "The 2001
Chrysler Sebring coupe is still spacious with exceptional packaging, but it
now has a more distinctive Chrysler brand design."
The 2001 Chrysler Sebring coupe combines stylish, non-traditional design
with roominess and comfort to set it apart from its competitors. Its chrome
surround low intake grille and fog lamps are pure Chrysler, as is a rear
appearance that borrows from the Chrysler 300M. The Sebring coupe exudes
sophistication and refinement from any angle.
"When it came to exterior design on the all-new Sebring, we wanted to make
a distinct statement for Chrysler in the sport coupe market, just as the brand
has done in other segments and as we did with the original coupe," said Ernie
Barry, Director of Advanced Product Design.
Barry and his team focused on those attributes that bring refinement in
the segment to a new level and are uniquely Chrysler with a premium look and
feel. Unique side moldings eliminate cladding and improve quality, the
bodyside moldings have bright inserts, and there are body color mirrors (on
the LXi model).
The goal of the interior design team was to create an environment that
complemented the Sebring's crisp and precise exterior. According to Tom
Slanec, Senior Manager, Exterior and Interior Design, the challenge was to
focus on function and convenience, while reinforcing the brand's elegant
heritage. "We built on those things we've done right, including roominess and
ease of use for occupants," Slanec said.
Interior design objectives focused on carrying the luxury image through to
the inside by providing a high level of detail and increased feature content.
For example, controls are easier to access and gauges easier to read. There
is an increased use of more luxurious fabrics and other materials that truly
separate Sebring from the competition.
That also meant ergonomics was the key to enhancing driving pleasure. As
a result, the ventilation and audio system controls were repositioned for
maximum convenience. The speedometer was placed higher in the driver's sight
line and isolated from secondary gauges. And the entire instrument panel was
lowered to provide a better, "faster" read and view of the road.
The seats were designed for easier operation. The side bolsters extend
upward to support the shoulders, yet provide space for arm and elbow movement.
(This is of particular importance to drivers of the manual transaxle model.)
The trunk remains spacious and easy to load, and provides the owner with the
flexibility of carrying longer items such as skis, snowboards or mountain
bikes.
"We've achieved a sports coupe that is refined in appearance but extremely
functional at the same time," said Slanec.
Chrysler Sebring sedan
The all-new 2001 Chrysler Sebring sedan, formerly Chrysler Cirrus, is a
new nameplate to match an all-new exterior and interior design that features
elegant Chrysler brand design cues throughout.
"We wanted the all-new appearance of the Sebring sedan to create a
stronger Chrysler family identity and increase its prominence in the mid-size
segment," said Joe Dehner, Senior Manager of Interior and Exterior Design.
"The design character of the all-new Chrysler Sebring sedan was influenced by
European sedan cues that were applied to the original groundbreaking cab-
forward design and mixed with hints of its renowned Chrysler heritage."
For 2001, the Sebring sedan features a signature egg-crate grille and
chrome surround inspired by the larger Chrysler Concorde and LHS sedans. With
jewel-like detailing, the chromed headlamp parabolas not only give Sebring a
dramatic road presence, but provide 25 percent brighter light and an improved
down-the-road light pattern. Similar to the Sebring Convertible, the front
fascia of the Sebring sedan features the Chrysler winged badge with a
functional air intake.
From the side view, the new Sebring sedan has a longer, arching roofline
that creates a continuous flow from the front hood to decklid, creating a
sleeker profile. Throughout the exterior design process, designers and
engineers worked closely for better air flow management. The cowl, A-pillars
and side mirrors cleverly integrate form and function to minimize wind noise
and maximize water management.
Also from the side, the higher, more wedged beltline gives the Sebring
sedan a more purposeful stance, which is highlighted with precise character
lines and more defined wheel arches to create a continuous flow from front to
rear.
The back view of the Sebring sedan carries a hint of the distinctive 300M.
Its higher decklid and performance-inspired taillights provide an immediate
family identity that underscores its elegant yet athletic appearance.
Interior appointments
Interior designers of the Sebring sedan built on the successful packaging
of the first-generation sedan with emphasis placed on Chrysler brand design
cues and refinements for an even higher quality appearance.
"Our overall interior design objective was to create the new Sebring sedan
with forms that reflect the crisp, refined look of the exterior, yet maintain
the space and packaging that were established as hallmarks with the award-
winning cab-forward design of the original model," said Godshall.
The new instrument panel features a more taut brow over the contemporary,
bright chrome-ringed white-on-black gauges that reinforce a Chrysler brand
design cue from the 300M and LHS. The Chrysler Sebring also features an
electronic "traveler" display in the instrument panel (standard on LXi,
optional on LX) with features including compass, outside ambient temperature,
trip odometer, distance to empty, average fuel economy and instantaneous fuel
economy. Design elements of the new instrument panel span the full width of
the car for a roomier feel. The interior is accented with simulated Walnut
Burl wood grain across the instrument panel and on the doors.
Immediately at hand and easier to use are the new heating, ventilation,
air conditioning and radio controls. The upper half of the instrument panel
and the upper portions of the front and rear doors are covered in soft-touch
vinyl for a richer feel and appearance.
The all-new Sebring sedan features higher back front seats for added
comfort. New on the rear seat are individually-folding 60/40 seat backs that
also accommodate a trunk pass-through for long cargo. A middle shoulder belt
has been added for improved rear passenger safety on all Sebring models. For
added luxury, the leather interior features a folding center armrest in the
rear seat.
The headliner on the new Sebring sedan is designed to accommodate optional
side air bag curtains, which protect the outer front seat and rear seat
passengers in the event of a side impact accident.
"We're giving customers a car that has all the premium features that
buyers have come to expect with a Chrysler, yet we've gone even further in
terms of style, finish, refinement and overall enjoyment," said Godshall.
